• Savannah Guthrie will host a new Wordle game show on NBC, announced live on Today on May 11, 2026.
• Jimmy Fallon, an executive producer on the show, made the surprise reveal alongside Guthrie during the broadcast.
• Production was delayed after Guthrie’s 84-year-old mother, Nancy, was reported missing in Arizona on February 1.
• The show will film in Manchester, England this summer — casting is now open via Today’s website.
• It has been over 100 days since Nancy Guthrie disappeared, with no suspect identified and a $100,000 FBI reward still active.

Savannah Guthrie has a new job — and she’s been sitting on the news for a very long time.

On Monday’s episode of Today, Guthrie and Jimmy Fallon officially announced that a Wordle game show is coming to NBC — with Guthrie, 54, at the helm. Fallon, who serves as executive producer, made the reveal during the 8 a.m. hour, kicking things off with characteristic enthusiasm.

“This is very exciting, I have a big announcement to make,” Fallon said. “We’ve been developing Wordle as a game show for the past two-and-a-half years with The New York Times, and it’s official — we are making Wordle Game Show with our host, Savannah Guthrie!”

Guthrie, a self-described Wordle devotee, lit up. “We’ve been holding this secret between us for a long time now,” she said, “and we’re going to make Wordle a game show.”

The show, based on the wildly popular New York Times online puzzle that launched in 2022, will challenge players to solve five-letter word puzzles in what’s being described as a “supersized battle of smarts, speed and fun.” According to the official synopsis, the format builds on the way the Wordle community already plays — “solving together, sharing wins, debating strategies and cheering one another on” — but now the most obsessed and competitive players will team up in squads and go head-to-head in a Wordle arena, competing for a cash prize.

Guthrie teased that it’s “super fast-paced and fun” and very much a family show. “I love a game and a show that you can watch with kids and you feel like they’re learning some things,” she said. Fallon backed that up: “Everyone can play, and it’s not like a trivia game where you have to know all these things and facts. It’s like, you’re just trying to guess a word.”

When Guthrie asked Fallon for hosting tips, he basically told her she didn’t need any. “We all thought, ‘Oh, you’re going to be great.’ And then you did it, and like 200 crew and cast, everyone was like, ‘We can’t do this show without Savannah Guthrie.'” Guthrie, ever self-deprecating, joked that she figured he picked her “because I have a skirt that looks like a Wordle.”

Carson Daly and Craig Melvin surprised her with Wordle merch baskets to mark the moment — a fun touch that made the morning feel, briefly, like a celebration.

The Thank-You That Said Everything

But beneath the excitement, there was something heavier — and Guthrie didn’t shy away from it.

She revealed that the show was supposed to shoot back in March, but everything stopped when her world fell apart. “We just found out in February that we got picked up and we were supposed to shoot in March,” she said. “And I just want to say a quick thank you to NBC and to Jimmy and his production company and The New York Times and the studio and Universal because when everything happened with me and my family, they just stopped everything and said, ‘We’ll wait for you.’ And Hollywood is a really tough business, and I didn’t expect that, and I just want to say thank you, it means so much to me.”

Fallon’s response was simple: “We can’t do it without you.”

Guthrie acknowledged the strange emotional territory she’s navigating. “It kind of feels strange to do everything right now,” she admitted on air, “but this is something that’s full of joy.”

She told The New York Times even more directly: “Everything is strange right now. It’s strange to get up and do the Today show every day, and it’s strange to say that I’m going to do a game show when your heart is broken. Nothing about that has changed, and it’s not easy, but I’m determined to put one foot in front of the other. And this is a joyous thing.”

She also shared a detail that hit differently given everything: she showed her mother the game show’s pilot in December 2025. Nancy and Savannah had bonded over Wordle.

100 Days, and Still No Answers

Savannah’s mother, Nancy Guthrie, 84, was reported missing from her Tucson, Arizona home on February 1. She was last seen alive on January 31. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said early in the investigation that there were “concerning circumstances” found at Nancy’s home, and described her as mentally alert but not in good physical health. “I hope we find her safe and sound,” he told reporters, “but we can’t ignore what’s in front of us.”

As of Monday’s announcement, it has been over 100 days. No suspect has been identified, no motive established. Several ransom letters were allegedly received by TMZ and local news outlets during the investigation. The FBI released photos and video of an unidentified person outside Nancy’s home, and a $100,000 reward remains available for any information leading to her recovery or an arrest.

Savannah took two months away from Today before returning to the anchor desk on April 6. Before she came back, she sat down with Hoda Kotb in an emotional interview that left viewers gutted. “Someone needs to do the right thing. We are in agony,” she said. “And to think of what she went through. I wake up every night in the middle of the night. Every night. And in the darkness, I imagine her terror. And it is unthinkable.”

She also opened up about a guilt she can’t shake — the fear that her public profile made her mother a target. “It’s just too much to bear to think that I brought this to her bedside,” she told Kotb. “That it’s because of me. I have to say I’m so sorry, Mommy. I’m so sorry.”

On Mother’s Day, the day before Monday’s announcement, Savannah posted an emotional tribute to Nancy on Instagram — a collection of video clips, and words that were hard to read.

“Mother, daughter, sister, Nonie — we miss you with our every breath. We will never stop looking for you. We will never be at peace until we find you. We need help. Someone knows something that can make the difference. Call 1800CALLFBI. You can be anonymous, and the reward remains available. Please keep praying. Bring her home. 💛”

Her husband, Mike Feldman, 57, honored Savannah that same day on Instagram, posting a photo of her with their two kids — Vale, 11, and Charley, 9 — and writing: “To the strongest person I know. Surrounding you with love on Mother’s Day. ❤️💔❤️.”

The Wordle game show films this summer in Manchester, England. If you want to be in that arena, casting is open now. And if you know anything about Nancy Guthrie, the FBI tip line is 1-800-CALL-FBI.

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• Michael Feldman honored wife Savannah Guthrie on Mother’s Day with an emotional Instagram tribute calling her “the strongest person I know”
• It’s Savannah’s first Mother’s Day since her 84-year-old mom Nancy was abducted from her Tucson, Arizona home on February 1
• The case is approaching its 100-day mark with no named suspects, though Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos says investigators are “closer” to solving it
• A $1.2 million combined reward is being offered for information leading to Nancy’s recovery
• Savannah also posted her own tribute to Nancy on Instagram Stories, pleading for anyone with information to call 1-800-CALL-FBI

Michael Feldman had just one thing to say to his wife on Mother’s Day — and it said everything. The political consultant took to Instagram on Sunday, May 10, to share a raw, blurry photo of Savannah Guthrie holding their two kids, Vale, 11, and Charley, 9, in a tight embrace — kissing Charley’s head while pulling them both close. “To the strongest person I know,” Feldman, 57, wrote. “Surrounding you with love on Mother’s Day. ❤️💔❤️”

The broken heart emoji in the middle of those two red ones felt intentional. Because this isn’t just any Mother’s Day for the Today show co-anchor. It’s the first since her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, was abducted from her home in Tucson, Arizona — a nightmare that is now approaching its 100th day with no named suspects and no confirmed trace of where Nancy is.

The outpouring from Savannah’s NBC family was immediate. Former Today co-anchor Hoda Kotb, 61, left two words in the comments: “Holding you.” Meet the Press host Kristen Welker wrote, “Love you, SG — praying for you today and every day.” Today lifestyle contributor Jill Martin added, “Redefines strongest.” Siri Daly, wife of Today co-anchor Carson Daly, commented “We love you all,” while sportscaster Lindsay Czarniak, married to co-anchor Craig Melvin, left a string of heart emojis. Even ABC’s David Muir showed up in the comments.

Savannah, 54, wasn’t silent either. On her own Instagram Stories, she shared a reel of tender moments with Nancy — family gatherings, grandchildren, siblings — set against the quiet devastation of what this day means right now. “Mother, daughter, sister, Nonie,” she wrote. “We miss you with every breath. We will never stop looking for you. We will never be at peace until we find you.”

She ended the post with a direct appeal: “We need help. Someone knows something that can make the difference. Call 1800CALLFBI. You can be anonymous and the reward remains available. Please keep praying. Bring her home.”

What We Know About Nancy’s Disappearance

Nancy was last seen on the evening of January 31, when her daughter Annie and son-in-law Tommaso Cioni dropped her off at her Catalina Foothills home around 9:45 p.m. after dinner. When she didn’t show up for church services the next morning, she was reported missing. Doorbell camera footage — recovered in part through an FBI collaboration with Google — showed a masked man in a ski mask and backpack covering the camera with plants in the early hours of February 1 before carrying out the abduction. Subsequent surveillance revealed the same suspect had been spotted near the home on prior occasions, suggesting the attack was premeditated.

A combined reward of $1.2 million is being offered for information leading to Nancy’s recovery. Anyone with tips is urged to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s tip line at 520-351-4900 or the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

The investigation has not been without controversy. FBI Director Kash Patel publicly claimed on Fox News’ Hang Out With Sean Hannity podcast that federal agents were kept out of the investigation for four days after Nancy’s abduction. “We went in and got the Ring doorbell. And we said, ‘Hey, is anyone talking to Google?'” Patel said, explaining that the FBI’s outreach to Google led directly to the doorbell image being made public. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department pushed back, releasing a statement saying a member of the FBI Task Force was present at the scene the night of the incident and that “coordination with the Bureau began without delay.”

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, who has faced criticism for allegedly clearing Nancy’s home as a crime scene too quickly, for using a private DNA firm over the FBI lab, and for not deploying cadaver dogs, offered a brief but notable update to Fox News Digital on Friday: when asked whether investigators were closer to solving the case as the 100-day mark approaches, he simply said, “We are.”

The Pima County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to reporters this month that DNA and video analysis are actively underway, supported by laboratories across the country, and that tips are still being received and reviewed. “Even small details may be significant,” a spokesperson said.

One detail that has drawn attention from outside experts: retired Arizona Department of Public Safety lieutenant Dave Smith told Fox News he believes Nancy may have been taken across the border into Mexico, citing the way the suspect appeared to carry his firearm — a method Smith described as “Mexican carry” — and the geography of Tucson’s desert landscape, which he said makes evidence notoriously difficult to preserve. “Once it rains, your footprints go away,” Smith noted. “The sun is hard on other forms of evidence and frankly this is a tough place to investigate crimes.” Law enforcement has not publicly confirmed or denied any international angle.

There was also a brief scare last week when human remains were discovered near the intersection of River and Craycroft roads in Tucson — roughly seven miles from Nancy’s home. Tucson police later confirmed the bones are believed to be prehistoric and have no connection to the case.

Kidnapping survivor and advocate Elizabeth Smart, who was abducted from her own home at age 14 and held for nine months before being rescued, told CNN’s Erin Burnett that she believes Nancy may still be alive — drawing on her own experience as reason for hope.

How Savannah Has Been Holding On

Savannah spent two months in Tucson after her mother’s disappearance before returning to the Today show on April 6. Before coming back, she sat down for an emotional two-part interview with Hoda Kotb that left little doubt about the depth of her anguish.

“It is unbearable,” she said, breaking down in tears. “And to think of what she went through, I wake up every night in the middle of the night, every night, and in the darkness, I imagine her terror, and it is unthinkable, but those thoughts demand to be thought and I will not hide my face, but she needs to come home now.”

She also sobbed over the possibility that her own public profile may have made her mother a target. “I just want to say, I’m so sorry, mommy,” she said through tears. “I’m so sorry if it’s me.”

But even in her grief, Savannah has been resolute. “I will not fall apart,” she said. “I will not let whoever did this take my children’s mother from them, I will not let them take my joy. They will not take our love, they will not take our faith. But our anguish is real. We need help. We need someone to tell the truth.”

In her interview with Kotb, Savannah described her mother in the kind of detail that makes the loss feel even more acute. “She’s incredible. She’s resolute and strong. Quiet strength, quiet faith, but hard-fought. She’s funny and a little mischievous, I would say, in her humor. She’s a noble creature. She does what’s right. She walks in faith, but not a fake, pious, put-on faith, but a grounded, earthy, she-fought-for-it faith.”

Last week, Savannah made an unexpected mid-show exit from Today on Wednesday, May 6, prompting widespread concern among viewers. Co-anchor Craig Melvin told the audience only that “Savannah had to leave a little early” and promised she’d be back the next morning. An insider confirmed the departure had nothing to do with any update in Nancy’s case — Savannah simply had an appointment. True to Melvin’s word, she was back Thursday, though she didn’t address the exit. She did get visibly emotional during a lighthearted segment where co-host Jenna Bush Hager shared childhood photos — when an image of Savannah’s old backyard flashed on screen, she smiled through what looked very much like tears. “That was in my backyard,” she said softly.

She has also made multiple social media videos alongside her sister Annie and brother Camron, pleading for anyone with information to come forward. Multiple purported ransom notes have been reported in connection with the case, with several sent to TMZ — though no suspects have been publicly identified.

The investigation remains active. The FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department say they continue to work together. And on this Mother’s Day, Savannah Guthrie held her children close — the way her own mother can’t hold her.

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• Savannah Guthrie quietly exited Wednesday’s Today broadcast 90 minutes in, with Craig Melvin telling viewers she’d “be right back tomorrow”
• Her mother Nancy Guthrie, 84, has been missing since January 31 after an apparent armed abduction from her Tucson, Arizona home
• The case is approaching its 100-day mark on May 12, with no suspect named and no motive publicly identified
• FBI Director Kash Patel claimed local authorities kept federal agents out of the investigation for four days — a claim the Pima County Sheriff’s Department disputed
• A combined reward of $1.2 million is being offered for information leading to Nancy’s recovery

Savannah Guthrie slipped off the Today set Wednesday morning without explanation, 90 minutes into the May 6 broadcast, as the search for her missing mother Nancy Guthrie nears a devastating milestone with still no answers in sight.

Co-anchor Craig Melvin addressed her absence simply and warmly: “Savannah had to leave a little early. She’ll be right back tomorrow, though.” He offered no further explanation, and NBC did not immediately respond to press inquiries about the departure. It was a quiet moment that spoke volumes — Savannah is only a few weeks back on air after a two-month leave, and the weight of everything her family is living through is clearly still very much present.

A Family’s Nightmare, Still Unresolved

Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen on the night of January 31, when her older daughter Annie dropped her off at her Catalina Foothills home near Tucson just before 10 p.m. after a family dinner. She was reported missing the following day around noon after she failed to appear at a friend’s house for a virtual church service. Surveillance footage from her doorbell camera captured a masked, armed individual at her front door in the early morning hours — someone who, according to police, was wearing long sleeves, gloves, and carrying an Ozark Trail hiking backpack, and who struck the camera with their fist.

Investigators believe a single person is responsible for Nancy’s abduction. Blood samples taken from the home have been sent to the FBI for testing. A hair sample and mixed DNA found at the scene are also under analysis. But as of now, authorities have not named a suspect or identified a motive.

The 100-day mark falls on May 12. It’s a number that has hung over the Guthrie family and the public following this case like a dark cloud.

“The Pima County Sheriff’s Department remains fully committed to the investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement on May 4. “This is an active and ongoing investigation, and we continue to work closely with our partners at the FBI. DNA and video analysis are underway, supported by laboratories across the country. Even small details may be significant.”

More than 300 tips were submitted to the 88-CRIME tip line over the course of just one month, according to local NBC affiliate KVOA. The Guthrie family has offered $1 million toward a reward for information leading to Nancy’s recovery — bringing the combined total, including law enforcement contributions, to $1.2 million.

The FBI vs. Local Law Enforcement Dispute

The day before Savannah’s mid-show exit, a new and jarring development added another layer of tension to an already agonizing situation. FBI Director Kash Patel appeared on the Hang Out With Sean Hannity podcast and publicly criticized the Pima County Sheriff’s Department’s early handling of the case.

“What we, the FBI, do is say, ‘Hey, we’re here to help. What do you need? What can we do?’ And for four days, we were kept out of the investigation,” Patel said. He added that it was only after the FBI was brought in that investigators were able to access the critical Ring doorbell footage showing the armed suspect outside Nancy’s home. Patel also said the FBI had offered to fast-track DNA analysis at the Bureau’s laboratory in Quantico, Virginia. “We would have analyzed it within days and maybe gotten better information or more information,” he said.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department pushed back directly. In a written statement, the department noted that Sheriff Chris Nanos himself responded to the scene the night of the incident, and that an FBI Task Force member was also present from the start.

“The FBI was promptly notified by both our department and the Guthrie family,” the statement read. “While the FBI Director was not on scene, coordination with the Bureau began without delay.” The department also said that evidence processing decisions were made “based on operational needs” and that their laboratory and the FBI’s Quantico lab had worked “in close partnership from the outset.”

It’s a public dispute that does nothing to help a family still waiting — and an investigation that, despite the bureaucratic back-and-forth, has yet to produce a single named suspect.

Savannah’s Return, and What She’s Carried Back With Her

Savannah returned to the Today desk on April 6 after more than two months away. She had initially traveled to Arizona to be with her siblings — brother Camron Guthrie and sister Annie — as they searched for their mother and worked alongside investigators.

In a deeply emotional interview with Hoda Kotb around the time of her return, Savannah opened up about one of the most painful questions she’d had to sit with — whether her own public profile had made her mother a target.

“I said, ‘Do you think [it was] because of me?’ And [Camron] said, ‘I’m sorry, sweetie, but yeah, maybe,'” Savannah tearfully recalled. “But I knew that. I hope not. I mean, we still don’t know. Honestly, we don’t know anything. We don’t know anything.”

Back in February, as the family was in the thick of their search, Savannah had turned to Instagram to ask for prayers. “We believe in goodness. We believe in humanity. Above all, we believe in Him,” she wrote. “Thank you for lifting your prayers with ours for our beloved mom, our dearest Nancy, a woman of deep conviction, a good and faithful servant. Raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment. We need you.”

A few weeks later, she shared more of what the family was enduring. “Every hour and minute and second, and every long night, has been agony,” she wrote in a February 24 update. “Of worrying about her, fearing for her, and aching for her. And most of all just missing her.”

When she did return to the anchor desk, she kept it simple. “Good morning and welcome to Today on this Monday morning. We are so glad you started your week with us and it is good to be home.” She jumped straight into headlines. It was, by all accounts, a quiet kind of brave.

Nancy Guthrie’s medical situation adds another layer of urgency to the search. The 84-year-old relies on medication and has a pacemaker — which stopped syncing the night she disappeared. The family and investigators are acutely aware of what that means the longer she remains missing.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Pima County Sheriff’s Department tip line at 520-351-4900 or the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

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